Which type of meditation would suit you?

[Geoff-Allen]

I wasn't entirely confident about where to post this thread so move it if you like ...

Found this guide after a Google search. Best of luck if you decide 2 try one or more of the suggestions.

As you may know, meditation has dozens of benefits, and everybody is doing it. You look for information online or on a bookstore, and see that there are a LOT of different ways of doing meditation, dozens of meditation techniques, and some conflicting information. You wonder which way is best for you.

For the full overview -

23 Types of Meditation - Find The Best Techniques For You

Enjoy!

 

[Martin]

I guess you'd have to try them all to see what suits you best.

 

[Aupmanyav]

That is something which should be avoided at all costs (Types).

 

[Martin]

That is something which should be avoided at all costs (Types).

Why? There clearly ARE many types of meditation, so isn't it sensible to explore different methods?

 

[Spirit of Light]

Vipassana meditation
Jhana meditation

 

[Martin]

Interestingly, there are methods to discover Self, as well as methods to demonstrate the non-existence of Self.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Why? There clearly ARE many types of meditation, so isn't it sensible to explore different methods?

That will lead one to counting, fix your gaze upon a pendulum or a source of light. Leads one away from the purpose of meditation, concentrate on something that one wants to contemplate. Simple, sit down at (preferably) at a calm place (I used to sit in front of a very busy and noisy thoroughfare), and observe your thoughts.
Nice article, though it is sales talk.

 

[Liu]

I normally do the kind which is called Emptiness Meditation in that list.
And some kinds of visualization practices that they don't list.

I probably also do some other forms, but not in the form of formal meditation but spontaneously,

Interestingly, there are methods to discover Self, as well as methods to demonstrate the non-existence of Self.

People seem to refer to different things when they say "Self".

 

[Martin]

That will lead one to counting, fix your gaze upon a pendulum or a source of light. Leads one away from the purpose of meditation, concentrate on something that one wants to contemplate. Simple, sit down at (preferably) at a calm place (I used to sit in front of a very busy and noisy thoroughfare), and observe your thoughts, IMHO.

Fair enough. My background is in mindfulness, but I've also been exploring some other approaches. What I find interesting is the different assumptions and purposes associated with different methods.

 

[Martin]

I normally do the kind which is called Emptiness Meditation in that list.
And some kinds of visualization practices that they don't list.

I probably also do some other forms, but not in the form of formal meditation but spontaneously,


People seem to refer to different things when they say "Self".

Sure. Here I was thinking of the different assumptions behind Hindu and Buddhist practices, eg Atman v. anatta.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Zazen, so don't expect to levitate.

 

[Liu]

Sure. Here I was thinking of the different assumptions behind Hindu and Buddhist practices, eg Atman v. anatta.

Yeah pretty much. I normally think of the self as atman (i.e. thoughtless awareness) and then get confused when people talk about no-self and mean it in the sense of anatta (i.e. the impermanence of thought).

 

[Windwalker]

I used to do a sitting meditation for an hour each morning, generally vipassana for about six years. That has transformed into body movement and energy work through qigong and Taijiquan, which is a martial form of qigong. It pulls together all of what was opened to in sitting meditation, into full body, mind, and spirit (or energy) awareness and connectedness. Of course, mindfulness meditation at any time.

Whole integration has been key for me, rather than just going into the transcendent (which itself is limitless), qigong and Taijiquan is integrating that with the fully imminent. "Emptiness and form". Heaven and Earth. The Divine Human. Hard to describe.

 

[crossfire]

This is a pretty good outline. There are many possible variations. For instance, several years ago I did a two year long vipassana meditation study focusing on PMS, and gained quite a bit of insight into it.

I haven't learned TM or Kriya, and instead of the I am meditation, I practice the neti-neti version of I am not.
I don't do much mantra practice, as it can be painful for me, nor do I do many guided meditations. I don't know about the Christian or Sufi meditations.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Nice article.

While my mediation practice isn't much discussed (asamprajnata samadhi), I have practiced Self-enquiry mediation and occasionally still do.

 

[arthra]

I wasn't entirely confident about where to post this thread so move it if you like ...Found this guide after a Google search. Best of luck if you decide 2 try one or more of the suggestions.

As you may know, meditation has dozens of benefits, and everybody is doing it. You look for information online or on a bookstore, and see that there are a LOT of different ways of doing meditation, dozens of meditation techniques, and some conflicting information. You wonder which way is best for you. For the full overview -
23 Types of Meditation - Find The Best Techniques For You Enjoy!

I also wanted to share here a piece I found on meditation from Baha'i sources:

"Man's spirit comprehends the realities of kingdoms which have no knowledge of him, even as the child in the womb has no knowledge of exterior existence; nevertheless, the mother comprehends the child's existence. The superior kingdom understands the inferior, but that the inferior comprehends it is no proof of the non-existence of the superior kingdom. In the human world, if we do not understand the divine world, is that a proof that the world of God does not exist? When we view the universe we see it as endless space, for we cannot restrict the universe to the lower kingdoms and to man who is here for a few days only, then vanishes.
"This physical universe is infinite, and if material existence is endless, how much more so are the worlds of God! When we think of the visible worlds as infinite, how can we think that the worlds of God are limited? There is no beginning and no end to the material or spiritual worlds. Man passes through different phases and when in a lower consciousness he cannot comprehend the consciousness above. When we were in the state of the unborn child we had no knowledge of the world of man. If the vegetable kingdom could speak it would cry out, "Where is the world of man?" We cry out, "Where is the kingdom of the spirit?"
My hope for you is that as you travel through the universe of existence you will ever become acquainted with new and wonderful significances; that your knowledge will ever be increased - knowledge without limitation; then you will understand the realities existing in all kingdoms. Capacity is in accordance with striving and sincerity.
"I pray that your inner sight may become clear, that you may be able to perceive things the heedless do not see, that you may understand the infinite worlds of God. A man who has no knowledge of the heavenly universe has missed a portion of his heritage and is like unto a stone which knows nothing of humanity. May God open your inner sight, so that you may know his secrets, attain to the highest degree of existence, become manifestors of a spiritual humanity and have your share of the heavenly wisdom that BAHA'O'LLAH bestows. These divine effulgences have enveloped the Orient and Occident, but the eyes know not how to perceive, the intelligences are weak and so men are deprived and are in manifest loss. I commend you to turn towards the kingdom of El-Abha, so that the divine mysteries may be revealed."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 117

 

[Geoff-Allen]

I also wanted to share here a piece I found on meditation from Baha'i sources:

"Man's spirit comprehends the realities of kingdoms which have no knowledge of him, even as the child in the womb has no knowledge of exterior existence; nevertheless, the mother comprehends the child's existence. The superior kingdom understands the inferior, but that the inferior comprehends it is no proof of the non-existence of the superior kingdom. In the human world, if we do not understand the divine world, is that a proof that the world of God does not exist? When we view the universe we see it as endless space, for we cannot restrict the universe to the lower kingdoms and to man who is here for a few days only, then vanishes.
"This physical universe is infinite, and if material existence is endless, how much more so are the worlds of God! When we think of the visible worlds as infinite, how can we think that the worlds of God are limited? There is no beginning and no end to the material or spiritual worlds. Man passes through different phases and when in a lower consciousness he cannot comprehend the consciousness above. When we were in the state of the unborn child we had no knowledge of the world of man. If the vegetable kingdom could speak it would cry out, "Where is the world of man?" We cry out, "Where is the kingdom of the spirit?"
My hope for you is that as you travel through the universe of existence you will ever become acquainted with new and wonderful significances; that your knowledge will ever be increased - knowledge without limitation; then you will understand the realities existing in all kingdoms. Capacity is in accordance with striving and sincerity.
"I pray that your inner sight may become clear, that you may be able to perceive things the heedless do not see, that you may understand the infinite worlds of God. A man who has no knowledge of the heavenly universe has missed a portion of his heritage and is like unto a stone which knows nothing of humanity. May God open your inner sight, so that you may know his secrets, attain to the highest degree of existence, become manifestors of a spiritual humanity and have your share of the heavenly wisdom that BAHA'O'LLAH bestows. These divine effulgences have enveloped the Orient and Occident, but the eyes know not how to perceive, the intelligences are weak and so men are deprived and are in manifest loss. I commend you to turn towards the kingdom of El-Abha, so that the divine mysteries may be revealed."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 117

Thanks for sharing!

Got me searching ...

The daily practice of reading from the holy writings provides a natural opportunity to meditate on profound concepts and to reflect on how they might be applied to one’s own life and character, as well as efforts to contribute to the progress of society. Such meditation assists one to heed Bahá’u’lláh’s advice to “let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday.”

Meditation | What Bahá’ís Believe

Cheers!

 

[r2d2009]

We need not so much one meditation, but a system, a technique that has a goal and means of achieving this goal.

In spiritual practices, the goal is the knowledge of God and the merging of human consciousness with the consciousness of God.

God is love. Love is a property of the Divine consciousness. In order to approach Him, we too must develop as Love.

Those meditations that develop Love are based on working with the Spiritual Heart or anahata chakra.

For example:



Cross of Buddha
It is good to start each practice session with emotional attunement and purification of the energy of the surrounding space. For this purpose there exists a wonderful technique known as the Cross of Buddha. It is performed in the following way.

For the best performance of this exercise we have to accept the so-called student posture: we sit down on the heels holding the spine straight, toes looking backward, and the palms of our hands resting upon the thighs. Then we send waves of our benevolence and love from the chest forward, saying mentally:

“May all beings have peace! May all beings be calm! May all beings feel bliss!”

We produce each of these three states inside the chest first and then radiate them forward. Then we repeat this to the right, to the left, backward, up, and down. This is a powerful technique that allows us to bring harmony to ourselves, to the surrounding space, and to the living beings around us.

 

[Thief]

I wasn't entirely confident about where to post this thread so move it if you like ...

Found this guide after a Google search. Best of luck if you decide 2 try one or more of the suggestions.

As you may know, meditation has dozens of benefits, and everybody is doing it. You look for information online or on a bookstore, and see that there are a LOT of different ways of doing meditation, dozens of meditation techniques, and some conflicting information. You wonder which way is best for you.

For the full overview -

23 Types of Meditation - Find The Best Techniques For You

Enjoy!

none of the above

how about?......kung fu
chess
darts
building a musical instrument

just cause your hands are busy doesn't mean you can't be empty headed

 

[Liu]

We need not so much one meditation, but a system, a technique that has a goal and means of achieving this goal.

In spiritual practices, the goal is the knowledge of God and the merging of human consciousness with the consciousness of God.

God is love. Love is a property of the Divine consciousness. In order to approach Him, we too must develop as Love.

Those meditations that develop Love are based on working with the Spiritual Heart or anahata chakra.

For example:



Cross of Buddha
It is good to start each practice session with emotional attunement and purification of the energy of the surrounding space. For this purpose there exists a wonderful technique known as the Cross of Buddha. It is performed in the following way.

For the best performance of this exercise we have to accept the so-called student posture: we sit down on the heels holding the spine straight, toes looking backward, and the palms of our hands resting upon the thighs. Then we send waves of our benevolence and love from the chest forward, saying mentally:

“May all beings have peace! May all beings be calm! May all beings feel bliss!”

We produce each of these three states inside the chest first and then radiate them forward. Then we repeat this to the right, to the left, backward, up, and down. This is a powerful technique that allows us to bring harmony to ourselves, to the surrounding space, and to the living beings around us.

The spiritual goals you stated are part of some forms of spirituality, but certainly not the main goals of all. Not all spiritualities have deities, and not all consider humans to be separate from the divine and in need of merging.

And why would god be love?